Bunny Thumping

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This topic has 9sd replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 8 months ago by Kokaneeandkahlua.

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- 02/25/2008 at 7:09 PM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  Hi, I just found this forum and I am so happy. I am always on some journey to find out more about my bunnies.
  
  While my husband and my favorite past time and way of life has been to help and home many rescue animals, including reptiles, this year we added bunnies. I grew up with them and have always loved them. All of them are rescue animals except Trix. Well Trix was rescued from a pet store after I watched his litter mates disappear, the depression in his eyes being alone was just too much and after several weeks of going in and seeing him, that was it.
  
  So now I have 4.
  
  My question is, about thumping.
  
  I have not experienced it at all with my rabbits, until now. We recently added our 4th bunny Nala, who is a LionHead Lop from a shelter, We introduced her to Thumper our 2 year old Holland Lop and they made fast friends. You can find them romping about the house, grooming each other, and snuggling. They are a great pair. Thumper who was an abandoned bunny and has had some behavior issues of his own, has recently started thumping. He thumps all the time. Most of the time he stands in front of the cage and thumps his feet, and then when she comes out, he thumps again. I thought at first it was directed at me, but then I watched him and it seems directed at her. He does it in the cage with her sometimes. I have read that thumping is often a sign of anger, fear, or warning. However, it almost seems as if it’s directed at her to MOVE IT, or get out of the cage and play or come here? I have yet to read it anywhere , but wonder if any one else has seen this behavior? They adore each other and they don’t fight. And I have yet to see him act agressive wiht her, he spends a great deal of time licking her face, and laying by her?
  
  Any feed back would be great!
  
  Learning the art of bunny talk has become one of my favorite past times.
  
  Thanks
- 02/25/2008 at 8:42 PM
  Hedi
  Participant
  969 posts
  Thumping can mean several things: to tell others there is danger, to state they are scared, to tell you to pay attention to them
  
  This is the best website to explain what rabbits are saying w/ body language. It usually takes reading it a few times to really understand it. And it teaches you how to actually talk back to your bun!
  
  http://www.paperglyphs.com/rabbits/rabbittalk.html
- 02/25/2008 at 9:24 PM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  Thanks Hedi,
  
  I was following some of the links here and saw that it might be he wants her to pay attention to him. He never did it before she came and it seems it’s more directed at her than us.
- 02/25/2008 at 10:55 PM
  Gravehearted
  Participant
  2428 posts
  hi MOMof4BUNS, welcome to Binky Bunny! It sounds like you have quite a lovely lil zoo at your house – how kind of you and your hubby to help out so many animals in need.
  
  You’re right – thumping in most bunnies is reserved for when they’re spooked and trying to warn the other bunnies about something. However – that’s not always the case. One of our members here, Osprey, has a bunny who thumps ALL the time – it seems that she likes thumping for the heck of it. Some bunnies will also thump to say MINE or in an effort to show dominance or disapproval - which sounds like is the case at your house. Sometimes one of my bunnies will thump for no reason that I or the other 2 bunnies can figure out!
  
  I think if you’re not seeing other signs of aggressiveness,I wouldn’t worry overly about it.
- 02/26/2008 at 9:43 AM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  Welcome to binkybunny! It’s really great here! We’d love to see pics of your bunnies when you are able!!
  
  Kokanee thumps just before she hops up on something…It seems like its a “look at me” or a “don’t you dare push me off when I get up there”. She thumps when she’s mad or frustrated. Kahlua thumps all the time. It’s a l”ook at me and do as I say, Slave!!” type of thing
  I am not sure Rupert *can* thump as he has an old injury to one of his back thumpers.
- 02/26/2008 at 10:58 AM
  ScooterandAnnette
  Participant
  1090 posts
  It may also be that the bunny hears or senses vibrations from the ground to which we may not pay much attention. Our bunnies occasionally thump for no reason, and it took a while for us to realize that some of this thumping happened when a train passed by. The nearest tracks are about half a mile away, so it’s not very loud and we seldom pay much attention to it, but I suspect it might have set the bunnies off.
- 02/26/2008 at 11:25 AM
  kimberleyanddarren
  Participant
  2520 posts
  yes it does sound like your bunny is just saying ‘pay attention to ME!’ or ‘MOVE’ to your other bunny if he isnt being aggresive otherwise towards that bunny i wouldnt worry well done to you for rescuing all those bunnies!
- 02/26/2008 at 5:45 PM
  babybunsmum
  Participant
  3896 posts
  4 buns… lucky you!
  
  the link some one posted above is a great one… really fun read. i adopted pinky just over 2 weeks ago & she’s a real thumper. at first i thought it was a sign of anxiety… especially after her first vet visit which came 3 days after her adoption when the vet said she wanted her to settle in before she spayed her. but after lots of observation & feedback on my home videos from others here (thanks so much!) i really believe she’s just a demanding girl & thumps for attention. she thumps a lot if i’m around but not petting her & especially if i’m filming her. she thumps when she jumps onto another level in her condo. she thumps before she binkies. she thumps before she runs through her tube. more than once she has thumped and then ran straight over to me & flopped against my leg for head pets.
  
  sounds to me like thumper is just living upto his name
- 03/18/2008 at 7:06 AM
  ReeNa
  Participant
  37 posts
  My bun is doing this. I first let him out of his cage the first day I got him, he sniffed around a lot, Then he thumped a couple of times. I wonder if this is because my cat was in the room and he could sense it because he was doing some binkies here and there too like he is happy, so I wouldnt think he is scared or mad. Sorry to steal the thread. But why do you think he does this?
- 03/18/2008 at 7:30 AM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  Most likely in that situation, I’d say it’s because he’s giving a territorial thump or a look at me thump!
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